Mama Love

Every expectant parent anxiously awaits the moment when she can finally view her baby in utero; it’s the picture that validates the miracle. Oftentimes, however, this takes place in a sterile, chilly and fluorescent-lit doctor’s office. This is why spa owner Patti Justice sought to create a relaxing, warm environment for parents and family members experiencing this unforgettable moment.

After years as a massage therapist specializing in prenatal treatments, Justice ventured out on her own to more fully serve the mom-to-be demographic—she opened Blooming Pregnancy Spa & Imaging Center in 2010 to “answer a calling,” she says. “Pregnancy is such a special and sacred time. I wanted to honor it.”

In addition to pre- and postnatal spa services—including massage, facials and nontoxic nail care—Blooming offers 3D/4D ultrasound imaging. Trained sonographers perform the procedure, reveal the sex of the baby (if requested), and send parents packing with CD-ROMs and color prints featuring their newest addition. The whole family can relax on couches and sip spa water while viewing ultrasound images on a big screen!

There’s much more than massage on the treatment menu, too. Blooming offers pre-conception massage (aimed at boosting fertility), as well as postpartum services such as doula counseling; breastfeeding support groups; and “baby-friendly Tuesdays,” during which clients can bring their pre-crawling infants into the spa. And here’s an add-on any expectant mom would die for: For $25, a 30-minute nap can be tacked on to the end of any treatment.

Blooming’s environment is so relaxing, that the staff braces itself for the possibility of a full-term mother going into labor on-site! “We’ve never had an emergency in the spa,” Justice says. “But we have helped jump-start labor for past-due clients with our specialized acupressure treatment—and then had them be wheeled into delivery 12 hours later.”